The New English Translation of the Roman Missal:

Exploring the Preface

Fr. Jan Michael JoncasWaukee, IA Liturgy Formation Day

29 April 2011

Structure of the Roman Rite Preface

• Opening Dialogue• Protocol• Body• Eschatocol• Holy, Holy, Holy

Preface of Eucharistic Prayer IV• V. Dominus vobiscum.• V. [The] Lord [be] with you [pl.].• R. Et cum spiritu tuo [sing.].• R. And with your spirit.• V. Sursum corda.• V. Up hearts• R. Habemus ad Dominum.• R. We hold to [the] Lord.• V. Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.• V. Let us give thanks to [the] Lord our God.• R. Dignum et iustum est.• R. It is right and just.

Protocol

• Vere dignum est tibi gratias agere,• Truly it is right to give thanks to you,• Vere iustum est te glorificare, Pater sancte,• Truly it is just to glorify you, holy Father,

Body

• quia unus es Deus vivus et verus,• for you are the one God, living and true,• qui es ante saecula et permanes in aeternum,• who are before the ages and remain unto

eternity,• inaccessibilem lucem inhabitans;• dwelling in inaccessible light;

• sed et qui unus bonus atque fons vitae cuncta fecisti,

• but who, the single good and font of life, have made all things,

• ut creaturas tuas benedictionibus adimpleres• so that you might fill your creatures with your

blessings• multasque laetificares tui luminis claritate.• and might make many things rejoice with the

radiance of your light.

Eschatocol

• Et ideo coram te innumerae astant turbae angelorum,• And therefore uncountable companies of angels stand

before you,• qui die ac nocte serviunt tibi• who day and night offer service to you• et, vultus tui gloriam contemplantes,• and, contemplating the glory of your countenance,• te incessanter glorificant.• glorify you unceasingly.

• Cum quibus et nos et, per nostram vocem,• With whom we, too, as well as through our

voice(s),• omnis quae sub caelo est creatura,• every creature which is under heaven,• nomen tuum in exsultatione confitemur,

canentes:• confess your name in exultation, singing:

Holy, Holy, Holy

• Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth.• Holy, holy, holy Lord God of armies.• Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua.• Full are [the] heavens and [the] earth with your glory.• Hosanna in excelsis.• Hosanna in [the] highest [places].• Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.• Blessed is the one who is coming/has come in the Lord’s name.• Hosanna in excelsis.• Hosanna in [the] highest [places]..

1974 ICEL

• V. The Lord be with you.• R. And also with you.• V. Lift up your hearts.• R. We lift them up to the Lord.• V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.• R. It is right to give him thanks and praise.

• Father in heaven,• It is right that we should give you thanks and glory:• you alone are God, living and true.• Through all eternity you live in unapproachable light.• Source of life and goodness, you have created all

things,• to fill your creatures with every blessing• and lead all men to the joyful vision of your light.

• Countless hosts of angels stand before you to do your will;

• they look upon your splendor• and praise you, night and day.• United with them,• and in the name of every creature under

heaven,• we too praise your glory as we say:

• Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of power and might.• Heaven and earth are full of your glory.• Hosanna in the highest.• Blessed is he who comes in the name of the

Lord.• Hosanna in the highest.

2010 ICEL + Vox Clara

• V. The Lord be with you.• R. And with your spirit.• V. Lift up your hearts.• R. We lift them up to the Lord.• V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.• R. It is right and just.

2010 ICEL + Vox Clara

• It is truly right to give you thanks, • truly just to give you glory, Father most holy,• for you are the one God living and true,• existing before all ages and abiding for all eternity, • dwelling in unapproachable light; • yet you, who alone are good, the source of life, have

made all that is, • so that you might fill your creatures with blessings • and bring joy to many of them by the glory of your

light.

• And so, in your presence are countless hosts of Angels,

• who serve you day and night • and, gazing upon the glory of your face, • glorify you without ceasing. • With them we, too, confess your name in

exultation, • giving voice to every creature under heaven • as we acclaim:

• Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts.• Heaven and earth are full of your glory.• Hosanna in the highest.• Blessed is he who comes in the name of the

Lord.• Hosanna in the highest.

Spoken Proclamation

• It is truly right to give you thanks, • truly just to give you glory, Father most holy,• [2 parallel phrases taken from dialogue / address as climax]• for you are the one God living and true,• [result connective giving reason for thanksgiving]• existing before all ages and abiding for all eternity, • dwelling in unapproachable light;• [4 parallel phrases as epithets for God / although a

complete sentence, punctuation is semi-colon so no complete stop]

• yet you, who alone are good, the source of life, have made all that is,

• [contrasting connective interrupted by two further parallel clauses as epithets for God]

• so that you might fill your creatures with blessings• [result connective giving reason for God’s activity

in creating] • and bring joy to many of them by the glory of your

light.• [2 clauses articulating the purposes of God’s

creative activity / end of sentence = complete stop]

• And so, in your presence are countless hosts of Angels,

• [new sentence beginning with a result connective / evocation of angels: notice cadence]

• who serve you day and night • and, gazing upon the glory of your face, • glorify you without ceasing.• [2 relative clauses describing the angels’

activity, with one interrupting phrase / alliteration / end of sentence = complete stop]

• With them we, too, confess your name in exultation,

• [new sentence beginning with connective phrase / central idea]

• giving voice to every creature under heaven• [modifying phrase articulating humanity’s task

/ N.B. NO COMMA] • as we acclaim:• [conclusion of Preface leads into Holy, Holy,

Holy with a colon, not a period]

Mystagogy

• God the Father– Considered “quoad se” (Father, most holy, one,

living, true, existing, abiding, dwelling, good, glorious, light)

– Considered “quoad nos” (source, creator, giver of blessings, bestower of joy)

• Angels– Serve God in time, contemplate God’s face, glorify

God eternally

• The Church/Humanity– Confess God’s name (= angelic unceasing

glorification of God)– Serve as the poets of [non-linguistic] creation

Preface for Eucharistic Prayer II: Protocol

• Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare,• Truly it is right and just, proper and healthy,• nos tibi, sanct Pater,• for us to you, holy Father,• semper et ubique gratias agere• always and everywhere to give thanks• per Filium dilectionis tuae Iesum Christum,• through the Son of your delight, Jesus Christ,

Body

• Verbum tuum per quod cuncta fecisti:• Your Word through whom you have made all things:• Quem misisti nobis Salvatorem et Redemptorem,• Whom you have sent to us as Savior and Redeemer,• Incarnatum de Spiritu Sancto et ex Virgine natum.• Incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin.

• Qui voluntatem tuam adimplens• Who, fulfilling your will• et populum tibi sanctum acquirens• and gaining for you a holy people• extendit manus cum pateretur,• extended his hands when he suffered• ut mortem solveret et resurrectionem manifestaret.• so that he might conquer death and manifest the

resurrection.

Eschatocol

• Et ideo cum Angelis et omnibus Sanctis• And therefore with the Angels and all Saints• gloriam tuam praedicamus, una voce dicentes:• we proclaim your glory, saying with one voice:

1974 ICEL

• Father, it is our duty and salvation,• always and everywhere • to give you thanks• through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

• He is the Word through whom you made the universe,• The Savior you sent to redeem us.• By the power of the Holy Spirit• He took flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary.

• For our sake he opened his arms on the cross;• he put an end to death• and revealed the resurrection.• In this he fulfilled your will• and won for you a holy people.

• And so we join the angels and the saints• in proclaiming your glory• as we say:

2010 ICEL + Vox Clara

• It is truly right and just, our duty and salvation,• always and everywhere to give you thanks,

Father most holy, • through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, • your Word through whom you made all things,

• whom you sent as our Savior and Redeemer, • incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the

Virgin.

• Fulfilling your will and gaining for you a holy people, • he stretched out his hands as he endured his

Passion, • so as to break the bonds of death and manifest the

resurrection.

• And so, with the Angels and all the Saints • we declare your glory, • as with one voice we acclaim:

Spoken Proclamation

• It is truly right and just, our duty and salvation,• always and everywhere to give you thanks,

Father most holy, • through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, • your Word through whom you made all things,

• whom you sent as our Savior and Redeemer, • incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the

Virgin.

• Fulfilling your will and gaining for you a holy people,

• he stretched out his hands as he endured his Passion,

• so as to break the bonds of death and manifest the resurrection.

• And so, with the Angels and all the Saints • we declare your glory, • as with one voice we acclaim:

Mystagogy• God the Father:

– Most holy– Father and missioner of Jesus Christ– Creator of all things (through Jesus Christ)– Has a people through Jesus’ mission– Possesses glory

• Jesus the Christ:– Beloved Son of God the Father– Receives mission from God the Father and fulfills the Father’s will– Means by which God the Father creates all things– Savior and Redeemer of the Church (?) of humanity (?)– Enfleshed by the Holy Spirit– Born of the Virgin Mary– Paschal Mystery (endured the Passion, broke bonds of death, manifested the

resurrection)

• The Holy Spirit:– Means by which God the Son is enfleshed

• Angels:– In union with saints and praying Church– Declare God’s glory

• The Church/Humanity:– Acquired by Jesus Christ for God the Father– Created by God the Father by means of Jesus Christ– Saved and redeemed by Jesus Christ– Yoked with its perfected members (“saints”) and

angels– Declares God’s glory